Analogies abound for the structure of an organization's culture. For some, the team concept stands out. For others, organizations mimic the structure and flow of a family. My philosophy of leadership is somewhat different, focused on the concept of community. My interest in civic engagement, where individuals contribute to their community through their acts of leadership, brought me very naturally to see organizations as communities. In turn, I believe that building community is the best way to lead an organization.
I define community as a group that feels in fellowship with others resulting from common attitudes, interests, and goals. Common purpose is what brings a community together, what turns a disparate collection of individuals into a purposive entity that can accomplish great things. A positive, strategic leader who values the members of their community can bring people together to achieve great things, even in the face of great challenges. Higher education faces great challenges today, making the need for community-minded leaders more than ever. In the leadership roles I have held over a variety of positions, I have successfully built and enhanced the community in which I worked.
An aspect of leadership I thus take very seriously is the development of personal relationships with my colleagues. We do not need to know the intimate details of each others' lives, but we do need to establish a rapport. In university environments, where memories are as long as careers, building trust is an essential leadership tool. People only trust those who they believe care about them. I take interest in my colleagues' teaching and research interests, but also their outside hobbies and passions. Only by connecting peoples' interests can we find the common purpose to unite as a community and make progress.
As Simon Sinek leadership instructor Sara Hannah says, "You can't motivate another person. You can only create an environment in which they can motivate themselves." I believe that a strong community culture needs to create that self-motivating environment, and make it my mission to instill that culture everywhere I work.